Rachel Riley may have found a husband while taking part in Strictly Come Dancing - but she says the BBC dance show also left her with PTSD.
The Countdown star, 38, has now called for all contestants to receive cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).
“I know from my time on it, 11 years ago, even the most sane, solid, grounded people, it can do something to you,” she said at the Inspiration Awards For Women at The Landmark Hotel in London.
“And there’s so many people that I’ve seen in subsequent years that have that shared experience. I don’t think even production are aware of quite what it does to people.”
Riley, who is married to ex-Strictly dancer Pasha Kovalev, with whom she shares two daughters, added: “When I was doing it, I was recommended CBT, and I think that’s actually been really great.”
CBT is a talking therapy that can help patients manage problems by altering the way they think about them.
It's often used to treat anxiety, depression and PTSD and focuses on improving a person's state of mind.
A course of treatment with an NHS therapist can usually be between six and 20 hour-long sessions.
Riley’s words come after another former contestant, Amanda Abbington, also claimed that the show had a negative impact on her mental health.
The Sherlock actress, was paired with Giovanni Pernice during last year's series, but dropped out after week five, citing "personal issues".
At the time it was reported that she and the Italian dancer had fallen out, something Abbington strongly denied.
Earlier this year, it was claimed that Pernice's "full-on methods" left her suffering with PTSD and requested footage from their rehearsals with a view to taking legal action.
However, recent reports suggesting she had abandoned her legal action were refuted by her representatives.
A source told MailOnline: “The whole thing was baffling but when Amanda contacted the BBC, she wanted some answers. But she hasn’t followed it through and the matter is now closed.
Her complaint was of course looked at but they were adamant that Giovanni had done nothing wrong. The BBC were ready to fight her.”However, Abbington’s spokesperson refuted the claims, telling The Mirror, “there is no truth to this story” and that there was "nothing more to elaborate on".
